Mercurii, 11 die Martii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Jones', &c. Estates.

AN ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for settling the personal Estates of Richard Jones Esquire, and Mary Gyfford Spinster, Minors, in Trustees, for the Purposes therein mentioned, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Farrer do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendments.

Bigg's Estate.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting certain Lands of Thomas Bigg, and his Wife, in Chislet, in the County of Kent, in Trustees, for Payment of Debts, and making Provision for their Children:

And the same were twice read; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and are as follow; viz.

4 Press, 27 L. after "whatsoever," add Clause | ; That the Act shall not extend to prejudice any Demand, or Right, which Lewis Lord Rockingham, or any claiming under him, hath to any the Premises, by virtue of a Statute, dated the 21 July 1680, entered into by the said Thomas Bigg to the said Lord Rockingham, for 600 l.; but that the Premises shall remain liable thereunto, as if the Act had not been made.

Ordered, That Sir John Bolles do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, that this House hath agreed to the said Amendments.

Lord Tunbridge's &c. Nat.

The House also proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords to the Bill, intituled, An Act to naturalize William Viscount Tunbridge, and other Children of the Earl of Rochfort:

And the same were twice read; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and are as follow; viz.

In the Title after "William," insert "commonly called;" and for "Rochfort," insert "Rochford."

Press 1. L. 4. after "Zulestein," insert "commonly called."

Ordered, That Sir Rowland Gwyn do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments.

GreatQueen street Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the better Improvement of a House and Ground in Great Queen-street, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Dawson's Estate.

Ordered, That Mr. Rowney, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Gery, Mr. Thompson, * Woodhouse, Sir John Parsons, Mr. Brotherton, be added to the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, for vesting Part of the Estate of Joseph Dawson Esquire in Trustees, for Payment of Debts, and for a Provision for the Maintenance and Marriage of his Daughters, is committed.

Heron's Estate.

Mr. Brewer reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Sir Charles Heron Baronet to sell Lands, for Payment of a Portion, and Debts, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and made some Amendments; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and are as follow; viz.

Press 22. L. 5. after "Years," insert "or Day of Marriage, which of them shall first happen; and after Time," add "or Times."

Avon Navigation.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, Yeomen, Farmers, Landholders, and other Inhabitants, in and about Biddeston St. Peters, Biddeston St. Nicholas, Corsham, Box, Slaughterford, and Colerne, in the County of Wilts, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill now depending in the House, for making the River Avon, in the Counties of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset, navigable; which will be very prejudicial to the Petitioners, and Multitudes of Families, in, near, and remote from, the said Places; and will be a much greater publick Evil than Good; which they doubt not to make appear: And praying, That they may be heard, to offer their Reasons against Passing of the said Bill, if the House shall think it requisite.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, Clergymen, Yeomen, Farmers, Land-holders, and other Inhabitants, in and about Bradford, Westwood, Winkfeild, Turley, Farleigh, Hungerford, and Rowley, in the Counties of Wilts and Somerset, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the making the River Avon navigable, from Bristoll to Bath and Malmesbury, will be a very great Damage to the Petitioners; and a greater publick Evil than Good: And praying, That the intended Bill, for making the River Avon, in the Counties of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset, navigable, may not pass the House; but that the Petitioners may be heard against the same, if the House think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of several Gentlemen and Land-holders, in the Counties of Wilts, Somerset, and Gloucester, near Bath, was presented to the House, and read: setting forth, That the Bill, now depending in the House, for making the River Avon, in the Counties of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset, navigable, will be very prejudicial to the Petitioners; and not serviceable to the Publick, as is pretended: and praying, That they may be heard, by Counsel, to offer their Reasons against Passing of the said Bill, if the House shall think it requisite.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Hawkers and Pedlars.

The Lord Cornbury, according to Order, reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for Suppressing of Hawkers and Pedlars was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, with some Amendments, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, for making void all Subscriptions, or Contracts, that had been made for carrying on the said Bill.

And the same was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to inquire into what Subscriptions, or Contracts, have been made for or against the Bill for Suppressing of Hawkers and Pedlars, or any other Bills; and report the same to the House:

And it is referred to Sir Edw Seymour, Mr. England, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Whitacre, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Norres, Sir John Kay, Mr. Colt, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. Elwell, Sir Sa. Barnardiston, Sir Row. Gwyn, Mr. Fortescue, Mr. Onslow, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Lowther, Sir Tho. Littleton, Lord Cavendish, Mr. How, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Sherrard, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Henley, Mr. Molesworth, Sir John Bolles, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Brotherton, Sir Godf. Copley: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And have Power to send for Persons and Papers.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Pepys have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Meredeth:

Mr. Speaker,

Maidwell Rectory.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for settling divers Lands and Rents-charge on the Rector of the Church of Maidwell, in the County of Northampton, and his Successors; and, in lieu thereof, for settling other Lands, and discharging Tythes belonging to the said Church; according to several Agreements between the Patron and the said Rector, made upon the inclosing of Lands in Maidwell; and afterwards, with Consent of the Ordinary, confirmed by several Decrees in the Court of Chancery; without any Amendments:

Sitting of Parliament on Demise of the Crown.

And have also agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the Continuing, Meeting, and Sitting, of a Parliament, in case of the Death, or Demise, of his Majesty, his Heirs, or Successors, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ditto.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments made to the said Bill:

And the same were twice read; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and are as follow; viz.

In the Title, L. 4. for "or," read "and."

1 Skin, L.7. after "preserve," add "or by the Death of any of his Heirs and Successors."

L. 17. for "or," read "and."

L. 23. for "or," read "and."

L. 25. after "Six Months," add "and no longer;" and after "sooner," add prorogued or."

L. 32. after "Crown," add "and if the said Parliament shall be so prorogued, then it shall meet and sit on, and upon, the Day unto which it shall be prorogued, and continue for the Residue of the said Time of Six Months, unless sooner prorogued, or dissolved, as aforesaid."

L. 36. for "or," read "and."

Ordered, That Mr. Smith do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments.

Highway Laws.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petitions of the Waggoners and Carriers were referred, be made upon Saturday Morning next.

Prohibiting India Silks, Callicoes, &c.

A Petition of the several Merchants and Linendrapers, trading in the Goods imported from the East-Indies, and Persia, in behalf of themselves, and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Bill now depending in the House, for restraining the Wearing of all Wrought Silks, Bengals, and dyed, printed, or stained Callicoes, imported into the Kingdom of England, and the Plantations belonging thereunto, of the Product and Manufacture of Persia, and the East-Indies, will not only be very prejudicial to the Petitioners, if it should pass into a Law, but also to his Majesty in his Customs, and to the East-India Company of this Kingdom: And praying the House to take the Premises into Consideration; and that the Petitioners may be heard, by their Counsel, therein.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table till the said Bill is read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the said Petition be rejected.

King's Speech considered.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to take into Consideration his Majesty's gracious Speech at the Opening of this Parliament:

And the same was read.

Civil List.

And a Motion being made, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty for defraying the Expences of the Civil List, for the Year 1696;

An Addition was proposed to be made of, "and for Relief of the poor French Protestants:"

And the Question being put, That those Words be added to the Motion;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of that Motion.

East India Stock and Debts.

The House being informed, That several of the EastIndia Company, with Mr. Beyer their Accountant attended, according to Order, with an Account of their Stock, and Debts;

They were called in: And Mr. Beyer presented the said Account to the House.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Account do lie upon the Table till To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the East-India Company do attend this House again To-morrow Morning.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

The Lord Coningsby, according to Order reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for continuing several former Acts for punishing Officers, and Soldiers, who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing false Musters; and Payment of Quarters; was committed; the Amendments, made by the Committee, to the said Bill; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill * * * *

And the same was twice read; and amended; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed to be made Part of the Bill.

Another Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That if no Prosecution be made upon the Bonds given by Agents for answering the Monies by them received, within Three Years after their Agency, such Bonds shall be void:

And the same was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Raising Militia.

The Lord Coningsby also reported, from the said Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for raising the Militia for the Year 1696, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid, was committed, the Amendments made to the said Bill; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put, thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be added to the Bill, That where any Papist, or other Person, is liable to find a Horse-man or Foot-Soldier, the Lieutenant of the County may appoint a sit Person for that Purpose; and charge the Estate, so liable, with 8 l. per Ann. for a Horse-man and Arms, and 30s. per Ann. for a Foot-Soldier and Arms:

And the same was twice read; and amended; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Supply Bill; House Duty.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for granting several Duties upon Houses, for making good the Deficiency of the clipped Money, was committed, be made upon Friday Morning next.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.